October - Honoring Christ in the Most Holy Rosary

October 7 is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

It is my personal opinion, one which is in accord with the mind of the Church, that you will profit very much by praying the holy Rosary every day. The prayer of the Rosary is the prayer of the holy Gospel, the Good News Who is Jesus. My best piece of spiritual advice to you, no matter who you are, president or plumber, priest or king...PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY! You will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.

                                          --Father John Corapi (Letters)

Interview with National President

On September 1, 2010, Joe Flanagan, the President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States, was interviewed by Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, on EWTN. The efforts of the Society locally, nationally and internationally, were discussed, as well as the Society's history and spirituality. To view the video please click here


Sacramento District Council President John Hallissy notes, "The interview is very informative for longtime Vincentians as well as those new to the Society or those non-Vincentians who want to learn more about the Society."

Daughters of Charity

On the role of the Daughters of Charity: 

St. Vincent de Paul has said the Daughters' main role is to "honor our Lord Jesus Christ as the source and model of all charity, serving Him corporally and spiritually in the person of the poor."

For the full article, click here.

Call for Youth Service to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

From National, the new Vincentian Youth and Young Adult website is now available. This website will help to keep you current on the groups and the activities of young people who are engaged in the works of the Society. It is intended to help engage young people in conference work.


As our Rule states: "Young members keep the Society young ... The senior members assume the responsibility of assisting them along their path of training, respecting their personal choices and their aspirations of Vincentian service." (Rule 3.7)

Solidarity with Broderick Christian

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/28/2853548/fire-ruins-homeless-shelter-in.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles

After recent vandalism and a suspicious fire on Sunday, June 27, 2010, which gutted facilities for the poor and homeless, Broderick Christian Center faces new and difficult challenges.  The OLG and Holy Cross SVdP Conferences stand in solidarity with Broderick Christian Center, will look for ways to assist, and continue to keep the ministry of Broderick Christian Center, and the poor they serve, in our prayers.

E-Evangelization

Source:  California Catholic Conference

"Pope Benedict XVI tied his World Communication Day letter to the Year for Priest celebration by urging greater use of new technologies to spread the Word:

'Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.' 

"The Pope and the Vatican have been available on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other sites for some time now."

6th Annual Walk for Life - San Francisco - January 23

The 6th Annual Walk for Life, West Coast (San Francisco) is January 23.  Click here for all the information.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

The National Society of St. Vincent de Paul has released the following information:

Society Of St Vincent De Paul National President Calls For Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds
Society has strong permanent presence in Haiti
For Immediate Release

ST LOUIS, Mo./EWORLDWIRE/Jan. 13, 2010 --- National President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA Joseph D. Flannigan has issued a call to the 120,000 volunteer members of the Society in the United States, as well as to the general public, to help provide assistance for the victims of the terrible Haiti Earthquake.

Flannigan said, "The people of Haiti are suffering with mass devastation. Our sister and brother Vincentian volunteers in Haiti will need our help in what will be an enormous and long term recovery. I ask for your prayers and financial support for the poor of Haiti."

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has a permanent presence in Haiti. Flannigan went on to explain. "Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers - who we call, 'Vincentians,' are at the scene of disasters long after many other service organizations have left. Our Society volunteers live and work in, and are primarily native to, the communities in which they serve. In the aftermath of natural disasters, this permanent presence is particularly important. Our volunteers already know and understand the people who are suffering. Using Hurricane Katrina as an example, several of our Society units - called, 'Conferences and Councils,' are still working with the many people of the Gulf Coast still impacted by the tragedy of Katrina."

"The Society of St Vincent de Paul makes no distinctions in service to the victims of disaster. We address their needs, whatever they may be, and we keep on addressing them," added Roger Playwin, national executive director of the Society of St Vincent de Paul USA, headquartered in St Louis, Mo.

Contributions for Haiti Disaster Relief and Recovery can be made via the Society's national Web site at SVDPUSA.org ('http://www.svdpusa.org'), or mailed to:

Haiti Earthquake
Society of St Vincent de Paul USA
58 Progress Parkway
St Louis, MO 63043

Epiphany

 

Epiphany is the Greek word for "manifestation."  On this feast day, "God is with us"--Emmanuel--is made manifest, shown, to the whole world with the witness of the Magi.

from The Deacon's Bench website:

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“But this feast should remind us: we are all magi, no matter where we come from. Each of us bears a gift, and has something to offer. And we are all journeying toward an unknown place of promise, guided by a never-ending light.”

To read the complete homily, click here. 


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Q:  In the picture above, why is St. Francis of Assisi (center, at left) present at the manger?

A:  St. Francis is credited with bringing the tradition of the "creche" or manger scene to our Catholic celebration of Christmas.  Click here for more on the Nativity Scene tradition.